Transcript Highlights:

• Our health care systems must be data-driven, and I am.
• Our health care systems must be data-driven and economically sound to produce the best possible outcomes
• SB 1312 requires a moratorium on disconnection of electric service during extreme weather events.
• does not account for extreme weather events that are Weather event is very constrictive and does not
• account for extreme weather events that are unrelated to temperature.

Summary: Senator Molly Cook held a press event on the deadline to file bills for the 89th Legislative Session to introduce her first legislative package, which she said is guided by a “nurse-first” approach focused on public health and safety. She described six pillars for the agenda: access to health care, safe homes and infrastructure, a clean environment, opportunity through jobs and public education, belonging and connection, and healthy and fair systems. She said the package includes 93 bills, with more than 20 developed from constituent input or collaboration in Senate District 15. Cook highlighted several measures, including SB 1312, which would bar electric service disconnections during extreme weather events; SB 1550, which would require hands-on CPR instruction in schools; SB 1764, which would set clearer rules for exiting a state takeover of a school district; SB 2725, the “Safe Streets Bill,” which would let cities lower residential speed limits to 20 mph without a costly study; SB 2723, which would repeal homosexual conduct as a criminal offense; and SB 2728, which would help new mothers use their Medicaid card to enroll newborns. She also noted bills on AED access, housing affordability and renters’ rights, youth e-cigarette exposure, hurricane preparedness, criminal justice reform, LGBTQ+ protections, women’s health, education accountability, and anti-corruption. In response to questions, Cook emphasized that the smoke-shop and e-cigarette bills were prompted by constituents concerned about a vape shop near an elementary school and would restrict advertising near schools and other sensitive locations, keep minors out of shops, and limit proximity to schools. She also explained that the speed-limit bill would remove the need for a costly study before cities lower residential speeds, while still requiring signage and public notice. The event ended with Cook thanking her staff and saying she looked forward to continuing the work in Austin.

Transcript Highlights:

• How do we get our weather sensors to detect the weather in this small space between 500 feet and 1,500
• How do we get our weather sensors to detect the weather in this small space between 500 feet and 1,500
• <00:58:55.520> management,<00:58:56.000> data there about data management, data there
• Uh, and then low-altitude weather.
• ><01:33:27.679> very able to determine weather at the very able to determine weather at the very

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The task force approved the October 14, 2025 meeting minutes and then heard a presentation from Austin Kaylor of WSP on alternative aviation fuels. Kaylor described an ongoing feasibility study focused on Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and the other four commercial airports in Kentucky, with an eye toward both near-term use of alternative aviation fuel in existing supply chains and longer-term in-state production using local feedstocks. He said Kentucky’s current jet fuel use at the five airports is about 609 million gallons annually and could approach 1 billion gallons by 2050, and he outlined potential feedstocks such as soybeans, corn, and waste oils, along with existing logistics assets like river terminals, trucking, rail, and some pipelines. He also discussed federal and state policy support, including renewable fuel credits and the recent 45Z tax credit extension, and said the study suggests significant economic-development potential if Kentucky can leverage existing infrastructure and incentives. Members asked about the cost of sustainable aviation fuel, whether taxpayers would be subsidizing it, and whether food crops would be diverted from food use. Kaylor responded that the market is increasingly using second-generation and waste-based feedstocks, that federal incentives can cover much of the price differential, and that SAF is a direct substitute for conventional jet fuel with some efficiency benefits. He said demand comes from both U.S. and foreign carriers, including major U.S. airlines that have made emissions-reduction commitments. Members also raised the possibility of locating production in Appalachia to create jobs closer to feedstock sources; Kaylor said that approach has worked in other states and could fit Kentucky’s logistics network. The committee then heard from Leif Elder of the Utah Department of Transportation, who introduced himself and said he would discuss advanced air mobility legislation in Utah. The transcript cuts off before his substantive presentation, and no further votes or actions were recorded after the question-and-answer discussion on alternative aviation fuels.

Transcript Highlights:

• department will annually obtain the data department will annually obtain the data from<00:03:46.799
• ,<00:05:13.120> public framework grounded in data, public framework grounded in data, public
• consistent data collection, clear consistent data collection, clear criteria,<00:13:43.120> and
• there's nothing here weather related. there's nothing here weather related.
• I do know that just in that data.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then coupled with that is going to be weather stations.
• We have a lot of data coming in, and then with weather stations and all the Other technology we have,
• So based on data that We gain data we can get from the Carson, the BLM, we can actually model the fire
• We are not solely relying on weather service raw stations for weather data.
• All right, here's a lot of data for you.

Transcript Highlights:

• it's a reminder that our data is ours. it's a reminder that our data is ours.
• We weatherize a drafty home. We weatherize a drafty home.
• The answer is we need better data. The answer is we need better data.
• . weather. weather.
• up, and that was weatherization. up, and that was weatherization.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House first suspended the rules briefly to make announcements, including welcoming former representative Doug Gage to the gallery. It then returned to House Bill 211 on data brokers and personal information, where the Appropriations Committee explained a $50,000 appropriation to the Secretary of State for a consultant-led study on an accessible deletion mechanism for consumers to delete personal data held by data brokers, with interim and final reports due in 2027 and 2028. The committee reported a 9-0-2 vote in favor, and the House agreed to the Commerce and Economic Development Committee’s amendment and ordered third reading. Floor debate on H. 211 focused heavily on the bill’s deletion and exemption framework. Supporters argued the bill is needed to give Vermonters meaningful control over their data and to prevent data brokers from commingling information for unrelated uses. Opponents warned the bill could conflict with existing federal frameworks such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Gramm-Leach-Bliley, and the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act, and could make credit, banking, insurance, fraud prevention, and identity verification harder. In response, the sponsor said the bill uses use-case-based exemptions rather than broad entity-level exemptions, noted testimony from banks, insurers, a data broker, a former data broker employee, and the Attorney General, and said no constitutional concerns were raised. The House ultimately adopted the amendment and advanced the bill. After H. 211, the House moved to House Bill 577, establishing the Vermont Prescription Drug Discount Card Program. Committee reports from Health Care, Ways and Means, and Appropriations were read into the record, and the Colchester member described the bill as a way to lower prescription drug costs by joining the multi-state Array Rx program. The bill would let any Vermont resident obtain a free discount card for FDA-approved prescription drugs, with claimed savings up to 80% on generics and 20% on brand-name drugs. The House then proceeded to second reading on H. 577.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill is designed to hold those responsible for extreme weather events accountable, further allowing
• These projects generate critical data to improve design and accelerate implementation.
• Health data from communities close to Logan bear this out.
• More extreme weather is already harming working people.
• In addition, investment is required to prepare for more severe weather and sea level rise.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee hearing focused on a broad set of climate, energy, and environmental justice proposals. Early testimony strongly supported the Climate Change Superfund or “Polluter Pays” bill (H.1014/S.58), which would assess the largest fossil fuel emitters for a one-time fee based on historic emissions to fund climate adaptation. Sponsors argued the bill is modeled on Superfund cleanup principles, would target only the largest multinational polluters, would not be passed on to consumers, and would direct a significant share of funds to environmental justice communities. Committee members asked about the number of companies covered, consumer impacts, and whether the bill would address other forms of environmental destruction; sponsors said it was limited to major fossil fuel companies with a Massachusetts footprint and did not cover other pollution sources. The committee also heard testimony on a fusion energy compact proposal (S.673) that would direct the administration to develop a framework for a New England regional compact to accelerate fusion research, workforce development, and supply-chain growth. Supporters from MIT and the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities said fusion could become a major clean-energy and economic opportunity, but acknowledged the technology is not yet commercially viable and still has unresolved technical, cost, and waste-management questions. Members pressed on environmental impacts, siting, waste, costs, and whether the bill would create a compact or only a framework; sponsors said it would only create the framework and that the administration would need to negotiate with other states. Another major topic was a pilot program for nature-based climate solutions (H.971/S.??), backed by legislators, Boston Harbor Now, and UMass Boston’s Stone Living Lab. Witnesses said the bill would help speed permits for research and demonstration projects such as living shorelines, marsh restoration, and hybrid “green-to-gray” flood protections, while maintaining safeguards and protecting Indigenous and historic resources. Committee members asked how the proposal would interact with other permitting reforms and whether it could conflict with housing or wetland-related streamlining; supporters said it was complementary and aimed at making projects faster, more affordable, and more data-driven. The hearing also covered climate-safe buildings and climate adaptation funding bills. Supporters of H.1004/S.583 said current building codes do not adequately account for future flooding, heat, and wind, and the bill would add climate expertise to the building board, allow stretch resilience codes, expand floodplain standards, and create a retrofit program. Related testimony backed H.938/S.572, which would create a dedicated climate and community resilience fund financed by a small fee on property insurance premiums; advocates said it would provide stable long-term revenue for adaptation, especially in environmental justice communities, and help replace unreliable federal funding. One witness from CLF supported the climate-safe buildings and funding bills but opposed S.560/H.939 as too broad. The committee also heard testimony on airport air-quality legislation (H.997) calling for more monitoring and mitigation of ultra-fine particulate pollution around Logan Airport and Massport communities. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sooner or later, an extreme weather catastrophe is going to hit each of us where we live.
• <00:36:13.240> and state policy instead to weatherize and state policy instead to weatherize
• Representative Eum, I'm looking at some data that was prepared by the U.S.
• I can just report some of the data that they found.
• Representative Tapy: ...whether that's data centers, whether it's AI, and the rest.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Civil engineers convey their expertise within the familiar letter grade format to condense data into
• Our infrastructure feels these strains in addition to facing more frequent and intense weather events
• Increasing severe weather, growing population. Or shifting traffic patterns.
• Consistent themes throughout the report involve population growth, increasing severe weather events,
• Increasingly severe weather events, including flooding, hurricanes, winter freezes, or extreme summer

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Schatz's tame Extreme Weather and Wildfires Act, introduced with Senator Sheehy, Lujan, and Welch
• , would leverage the power of artificial intelligence for weather and wildfires forecasting.
• And the Fog Observation and Geographic Forecasting Act would require the National Weather Service to
• Korea and Russia and we also have two bills before us that aim to improve weather forecasting the first
• direction from NOAA to improve the accuracy and timeliness of weather, water, and space forecasting.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 56 REFLECTS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM UNAUTHORIZED GEOENGINEERING AND WEATHER
• THERE HAVE BEEN NO WEATHER MODIFICATION PERMITS ISSUED IN THE LAST TEN YEARS TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.
• AND WEATHER MODIFICATION TO BE WEAPONIZED.
• AREN'T WEATHER MODIFICATION TECHNIQUES LIKE CLOUD SEEDING...? USED TO MITIGATE DROUGHTS?
• Will this bill affect any current weather programs? It will not.

Bills: SJR12, SCR39, SB27, SB29, SB241, SB406, SB414, SB464, SB568, SB578, SB609, SB660, SB689, SB693, SB785, SB857, SB879, SB921, SB922, SB955, SB985, SB993, SB996, SB1008, SB1035, SB1036, SB1059, SB1098, SB1120, SB1122, SB1147, SB1188, SB1197, SB1209, SB1227, SB1245, SB1267, SB1307, SB1321, SB1332, SB1386, SB1396, SB1453, SB1484, SB1494, SB1536, SB1537, SB1596, SB1610, SB1664, SB1741, SB1814, SB1822, SB1841, SB1948, SB2065, SB2155, SB2188, SB2230, SB2406, SB2407, SJR36, SJR12, SJR81, SJR50, SCR22, SCR12, SCR39, SB406, SB689, SB765, SB62, SB666, SB888, SB687, SB847, SB1248, SB504, SB857, SB305, SB296, SB284, SB241, SB304, SB1023, SB204, SB609, SB670, SB850, SB854, SB413, SB1346, SB1033, SB1220, SB1073, SB810, SB1539, SB447, SB1119, SB1505, SB1215, SB1302, SB583, SB673, SB681, SB1172, SB955, SB957, SB1120, SB541, SB266, SB1415, SB53, SB1352, SB785, SB1450, SB1502, SB1566, SB414, SB1062, SB711, SB746, SB1404, SB1448, SB507, SB1026, SB1349, SB1355, SB1433, SB1434, SB1596, SB1403, SB667, SB1059, SB1567, SB310, SB311, SB505, SB1209, SB1210, SB1470, SB264, SB1029, SB1358, SB1364, SB1569, SB1376, SB1228, SB519, SB1350, SB462, SB827, SB1585, SB1396, SB1484, SB1273, SB1741, SB927, SB1227, SB1229, SB1353, SB1464, SB1709, SB1729, SB1733, SB1744, SB1772, SB1841, SB2188, SB1147, SB879, SB1008, SB1536, SB2016, SB1453, SB1173, SB1163, SB996, SB27, SB568, SB1370, SB1321, SB1101, SB860, SB993, SB693, SB1610, SB1537, SB1332, SB1307, SB963, SB493, SB922, SB984, SB619, SB1098, SB1122, SB455, SB522, SB1057, SB1239, SB1254, SB1255, SB1259, SB1341, SB1664, SB1877, SB464, SB1277, SB32, SB732, SB660, SB731, SB921, SB268, SB1822, SB1188, SB1589, SB397, SB2230, SB1058, SB1036, SB1267, SB2112, SB1930, SB532, SB1035, SB2155, SB508, SB29, SB292, SB291, SB901, SB1333, SB1436, SB1494, SB964, SB779, SB1378, SB2312, SB1719, SB1386, SB287, SB2143, SB1245, SB261, SB1247, SB1948, SB2406, SB2407, SB1882, SB1197, SB1814, SB618, SB38, SB393, SB2065, SB1371, SB1394, SB1365, SB2243, SB2226, SB2039, SB1919, SB1895, SB1598, SB1493, SB1810, SB1791, SB1706, SB1644, SB1238, SB783, SB458, SB22, SB651, SB897, SB1809, SB1080, SB745, SB826, SB989, SB1320, SB1437, SB2320, SB2289, SB1171, SB664, SB1637, SB27, SB29, SB857, SB879, SB922, SB1098, SB1453, SB1536, SB1741, SB2188, SB2230, SB406, SB689, SJR12, SR358, SR361, SR362, SR368, SJR74, SJR76, SB2408, SB2409, SB2461, SB2462, SB2463, SB2464, SB2465, SB2466, SB2467, SB2468, SB2469, SB2470, SB2471, SB2472, SB2473, SB2474, SB2475, SB2476, SB2477, SB2478, SB2479, SB2480, SB2481, SB2482, SB2483, SB2484, SB2485, SB2486, SB2487, SB2488, SB2489, SB2490, SB2491, SB2492, SB2493, SB2494, SB2495, SB2496, SB2497, SB2498, SB2499, SB2500, SB2501, SB2502, SB2503, SB2504, SB2505, SB2506, SB2507, SB2508, SB2509, SB2510, SB2511, SB2512, SB2513, SB2514, SB2515, SB2516, SB2517, SB2518, SB2519, SB2520, SB2521, SB2522, SB2523, SB2524, SB2525, SB2526, SB2527, SB2528, SB2529, SB2530, SB2531, SB2532, SB2533, SB2534, SB2535, SB2536, SB2537, SB2538, SB2539, SB2540, SB2541, SB2542, SB2543, SB2544, SB2545, SB2546, SB2547, SB2548, SB2549, SB2550, SB2551, SB2552, SB2553, SB2554, SB2555, SB2556, SB2557, SB2558, SB2560, SB2561, SB2562, SB2563, SB2565, SB2566, SB2567, SB2568, SB2569, SB2570, SB2571, SB2572, SB2573, SB2574, SB2575, SB2576, SB2577, SB2578, SB2579, SB2580, SB2581, SB2582, SB2583, SB2584, SB2585, SB2586, SB2587, SB2588, SB2589, SB2590, SB2591, SB2592, SB2593, SB2594, SB2595, SB2596, SB2597, SB2598, SB2599, SB2600, SB2601, SB2602, SB2603, SB2604, SB2605, SB2606, SB2607, SB2608, SB2609, SB2610, SB2611, SB2612, SB2613, SB2614, SB2615, SB2616, SB2617, SB2618, SB2619, SB2620, SB2621, SB2622, SB2625, SB2626, SB2627, SB2628, SB2629, SB2630, SB2631, SB2632, SB2633, SB2634, SB2635, SB2636, SB2637, SB2638, SB2639, SB2640, SB2641, SB2642, SB2643, SB2644, SB2645, SB2646, SB2647, SB2648, SB2649, SB2650, SB2651, SB2652, SB2653, SB2654, SB2655, SB2656, SB2657, SB2658, SB2659, SB2660, SB2661, SB2662, SB2663, SB2664, SB2665, SB2666, SB2667, SB2668, SB2669, SB2670, SB2671, SB2672, SB2673, SB2674, SB2675, SB2676, SB2677, SB2678, SB2679, SB2680, SB2681, SB2682, SB2683, SB2684, SB2685, SB2686, SB2687, SB2688, SB2689, SB2690, SB2691, SB2692, SB2693, SB2694, SB2695, SB2696, SB2697, SB2698, SB2699, SB2700, SB2701, SB2702, SB2703, SB2704, SB2705, SB2706, SB2707, SB2708, SB2709, SB2710, SB2711, SB2712, SB2713, SB2714, SB2715, SB2716, SB2717, SB2718, SB2719, SB2720, SB2721, SB2723, SB2724, SB2725, SB2726, SB2727, SB2728, SB2729, SB2730, SB2731, SB2732, SB2733, SB2734, SB2735, SB2736, SB2737, SB2738, SB2739, SB2740, SB2741, SB2742, SB2743, SB2744, SB2745, SB2746, SB2747, SB2748, SB2749, SB2750, SB2751, SB2752, SB2753, SB2754, SB2755, SB2756, SB2757, SB2758, SB2759, SB2760, SB2761, SB2762, SB2763, SB2764, SB2765, SB2766, SB2767, SB2768, SB2769, SB2770, SB2771, SB2772, SB2773, SB2774, SB2775, SB2776, SB2777, SB2778, SB2779, SB2780, SB2781, SB2782, SB2783, SB2784, SB2785, SB2786, SB2787, SB2788, SB2789, SB2790, SB2791, SB2792, SB2793, SB2794, SB2795, SB2796, SB2797, SB2798, SB2799, SB2800, SB2967, SB3034, HJR1, HJR4, HB9, HB 13, HB22, HB135, HB143, HB195, HB908, HB1392, SB861, SB1013, SJR74, SJR76, SB2408, SB2409, SB2461, SB2462, SB2463, SB2464, SB2465, SB2466, SB2467, SB2468, SB2469, SB2470, SB2471, SB2472, SB2473, SB2474, SB2475, SB2476, SB2477, SB2478, SB2479, SB2480, SB2481, SB2482, SB2483, SB2484, SB2485, SB2486, SB2487, SB2488, SB2489, SB2490, SB2491, SB2492, SB2493, SB2494, SB2495, SB2496, SB2497, SB2498, SB2499, SB2500, SB2501, SB2502, SB2503, SB2504, SB2505, SB2506, SB2507, SB2508, SB2509, SB2510, SB2511, SB2512, SB2513, SB2514, SB2515, SB2516, SB2517, SB2518, SB2519, SB2520, SB2521, SB2522, SB2523, SB2524, SB2525, SB2526, SB2527, SB2528, SB2529, SB2530, SB2531, SB2532, SB2533, SB2534, SB2535, SB2536, SB2537, SB2538, SB2539, SB2540, SB2541, SB2542, SB2543, SB2544, SB2545, SB2546, SB2547, SB2548, SB2549, SB2550, SB2551, SB2552, SB2553, SB2554, SB2555, SB2556, SB2557, SB2558, SB2560, SB2561, SB2562, SB2563, SB2565, SB2566, SB2567, SB2568, SB2569, SB2570, SB2571, SB2572, SB2573, SB2574, SB2575, SB2576, SB2577, SB2578, SB2579, SB2580, SB2581, SB2582, SB2583, SB2584, SB2585, SB2586, SB2587, SB2588, SB2589, SB2590, SB2591, SB2592, SB2593, SB2594, SB2595, SB2596, SB2597, SB2598, SB2599, SB2600, SB2601, SB2602, SB2603, SB2604, SB2605, SB2606, SB2607, SB2608, SB2609, SB2610, SB2611, SB2612, SB2613, SB2614, SB2615, SB2616, SB2617, SB2618, SB2619, SB2620, SB2621, SB2622, SB2625, SB2626, SB2627, SB2628, SB2629, SB2630, SB2631, SB2632, SB2633, SB2634, SB2635, SB2636, SB2637, SB2638, SB2639, SB2640, SB2641, SB2642, SB2643, SB2644, SB2645, SB2646, SB2647, SB2648, SB2649, SB2650, SB2651, SB2652, SB2653, SB2654, SB2655, SB2656, SB2657, SB2658, SB2659, SB2660, SB2661, SB2662, SB2663, SB2664, SB2665, SB2666, SB2667, SB2668, SB2669, SB2670, SB2671, SB2672, SB2673, SB2674, SB2675, SB2676, SB2677, SB2678, SB2679, SB2680, SB2681, SB2682, SB2683, SB2684, SB2685, SB2686, SB2687, SB2688, SB2689, SB2690, SB2691, SB2692, SB2693, SB2694, SB2695, SB2696, SB2697, SB2698, SB2699, SB2700, SB2701, SB2702, SB2703, SB2704, SB2705, SB2706, SB2707, SB2708, SB2709, SB2710, SB2711, SB2712, SB2713, SB2714, SB2715, SB2716, SB2717, SB2718, SB2719, SB2720, SB2721, SB2723, SB2724, SB2725, SB2726, SB2727, SB2728, SB2729, SB2730, SB2731, SB2732, SB2733, SB2734, SB2735, SB2736, SB2737, SB2738, SB2739, SB2740, SB2741, SB2742, SB2743, SB2744, SB2745, SB2746, SB2747, SB2748, SB2749, SB2750, SB2751, SB2752, SB2753, SB2754, SB2755, SB2756, SB2757, SB2758, SB2759, SB2760, SB2761, SB2762, SB2763, SB2764, SB2765, SB2766, SB2767, SB2768, SB2769, SB2770, SB2771, SB2772, SB2773, SB2774, SB2775, SB2776, SB2777, SB2778, SB2779, SB2780, SB2781, SB2782, SB2783, SB2784, SB2785, SB2786, SB2787, SB2788, SB2789, SB2790, SB2791, SB2792, SB2793, SB2794, SB2795, SB2796, SB2797, SB2798, SB2799, SB2800, SB2967, SB3034, HJR1, HJR4, HB9, HB 13, HB22, HB135, HB143, HB195, HB908, HB1392, SB861, SB1013

Keywords: parental rights, education, constitutional amendment, school choice, child education, border security, southern border, federal immigration policy, illegal immigration, cartels, transnational cartels, fentanyl, drug trafficking, human trafficking, Operation Lone Star, Texas border, National Guard, state guard, border wall, border barriers

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, there have been widespread reports that Texas will experience a surge in data center development
• A lot of data centers...
• Now, focusing on the data center part.
• So the performance of units before weatherization in 2011 was such that we had to have load shed.
• Okay, so the weatherization of those thermal units, the weatherization of the gas system, all those things

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:14:01.600> for<00:14:01.920> adding for weatherizing housing, for adding for weatherizing
• Minnesota claimed the um weatherization Minnesota claimed the um weatherization credit. credit.
• increasing demand particularly from data increasing demand particularly from data centers.<00:17
• <00:52:26.079> and you just said with weatherization and you just said with weatherization
• by<01:13:24.800> the Um there's data reported by the Um there's data reported by the regulated

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Pierce County is a really good example: weather-related hazard risks vary considerably from the coastal
• Pierce County is a really good example, weather-related hazard risk, a really good example, weather-related
• We appreciate the auditor's focus on building energy infrastructure to withstand extreme weather now
• Washington has already experienced the impacts of extreme weather on energy infrastructure.
• Our analysis of court data showed that Kent Municipal Court assessed fines in 79% of its cases where

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee I-900 Subcommittee heard JLARC’s annual update on the status of legislative implementation of State Auditor recommendations, followed by two State Auditor performance audits. JLARC staff reported that for the 2024 review period there were three new legislative recommendations and three unresolved older recommendations. They said the legislature did not convene a work group on civil asset forfeiture, and no formal action was taken on two water-use-efficiency recommendations. Two recommendations related to concurrent Medicaid enrollments were addressed in a bill introduced this session, but that bill was not adopted. The first audit examined how Washington can ensure climate-resilient electricity infrastructure. The State Auditor found the state has opportunities to better adapt new energy infrastructure by using more site-specific climate information, broader collaboration, and vulnerability assessments. The report recommended expanding climate analyses through the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group if funding is available, using forecasted information in DNR wildfire maps, designating a non-regulatory office to coordinate siting and conflict resolution, and expanding vulnerability assessments in Ecology and Commerce processes. Agency witnesses generally agreed resilience is important but emphasized existing efforts, the need to avoid duplicative requirements, the importance of affordability and efficiency, and the role of current forums such as the Clean Energy Siting Council and SEPA processes. The second audit reviewed fines for human trafficking and related sexual exploitation crimes. Auditors found courts assessed fines inconsistently, collection rates varied, some revenues were sent to the wrong local government, and some jurisdictions did not use the money as required for enforcement, prevention, or survivor services. The audit recommended courts work with prosecutors to improve awareness of mandatory fines, and that King and Pierce County improve coding, templates, and tracking so revenues are routed and used correctly. King County testified that it appreciated the audit and described its existing prevention and survivor-support work. The committee took no votes or formal actions and adjourned after the presentations and testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• of disasters and inclement weather. of disasters and inclement weather.
• > we<00:23:34.960> can Weather permitting, we can we can Weather permitting, we can we
• to talk about the changing weather to talk about the changing weather conditions<00:25:13.320>
• It's a lot more accurate, a lot more precise with the location data.
• So, a cloud is another data center that we don't own.

Keywords: Investments in Information Technology Improvement & Modernization Projects Oversight Board will met upon adjournment of both chambers. The time set is noon on YouTube, But the official time will likely vary based on chamber proceedings. Meeting start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:00 Tools for Managing Remote Work Kentucky Personnel Cabinet 00:00:30 Kentucky Transportation Cabinet 00:20:20 Cabinet for Health and Family Services 00:33:10 Housing, Buildings and Construction 00:47:40 Commonwealth Office of Technology 00:56:20, 958, all

Summary: The committee received testimony from Personnel Cabinet Secretary Mary Elizabeth Bailey and Deputy Secretary Robert Long on the state’s telecommuting policy. Bailey explained that telecommuting in the executive branch is governed by a statewide policy requiring eligible employees to work in the office three days a week and telecommute up to two days a week. Eligibility depends first on the position, not the person: public-facing jobs, roles requiring special equipment or insecure document handling, and other duties that cannot be performed remotely are not eligible. Employees and managers must complete training, sign agreements, comply with safety and IT requirements, and telecommuting privileges can be revoked for poor performance or discipline. She said the cabinet audits compliance and that telecommuting has helped maintain services during inclement weather, disasters, and building renovations. Bailey also said about 33% of the workforce is hybrid, 11% telecommutes full-time, and 56% does not telecommute. Members asked about cost savings, eligibility, discipline, and technology requirements. Bailey said she did not have statewide cost-savings figures and referred that question to the Finance and Administration Cabinet. She said employees must have reliable connectivity and appropriate equipment, but there is no fixed broadband speed requirement; if an employee cannot connect, they must come into the office. She also said telecommuting postings indicate whether a position is eligible, and that performance issues are handled through progressive discipline rather than being ignored. Transportation Cabinet officials then described how their agency manages remote work. Deputy Secretary Mike Hancock, along with IT and human resources leaders, said the cabinet follows the executive branch policy and actively manages telecommuting employees through Microsoft Teams, VPN access, daily standups, project tracking, and manager oversight. They said more than 2,600 of the cabinet’s 4,000 employees cannot telecommute because their jobs are public-facing or field-based, while about 35% are eligible to telecommute up to two days per week. The cabinet also has 13 state employees and 94 contract employees working full-time remotely in IT. Officials said telecommuting has improved recruitment and retention, supported emergency response and weather operations, and allowed the cabinet to continue working during storms and other disruptions. Members asked about phone equipment, monitoring, and “mouse jiggler” devices; officials said phones are often forwarded to personal or state devices, Teams shows real-time availability, and managers rely on daily accountability and project management tools to monitor work.

Transcript Highlights:

• requires the Civil Rights Commission to compile an annual report and hold an annual public hearing on data
• bill and request in the committee report full-time positions, two civil rights investigators, one data
• legislature and posted on HCRC's website and specify that these reports use aggregated anonymized data
• civil rights positions, two civil rights investigators,<00:36:40.079> one<00:36:40.240> data
• analyst, and one investigators, one data analyst, and one program<00:36:41.599> manager.

Bills: SB2055, SB2152

Keywords: civil rights, helpline, investigator, data analysis, Aloha United Way, reporting, confidentiality, community support, mandatory retirement, Hawaii Constitution, judiciary, justices, judges, 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard SB 2055, which would create a Civil Rights Commission helpline for reports of harms from federal deployments in Hawaii and require annual reporting and a public hearing. The Hawaii Civil Rights Commission supported the concept but said the bill should be broadened to cover civil rights and human rights violations more generally, and recommended using existing 211/Aloha United Way infrastructure. Testimony was largely in support, with a few opponents. Members focused on whether the proposed line was really a 24-hour legal hotline or a reporting/referral mechanism, what jurisdiction the commission would have over federal employees, and the estimated costs. The committee chair indicated the bill would move forward with amendments, including adopting HCRC recommendations and adding appropriations for Aloha United Way, database/website development, and staffing. The committee then heard SB 2152, a proposed constitutional amendment to raise the mandatory retirement age for state judges and justices from 70 to 75. Judge Robert D.S. Kim, the Office of the Public Defender, Earthjustice, Community Alliance on Prisons, the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, United Public Workers, the League of Women Voters, ILWU Local 142, CARES, and others testified in support, arguing that experienced judges improve stability, reduce vacancies, and preserve institutional knowledge. Opponents or skeptical comments were limited, but one member questioned whether the measure was just a temporary fix rather than a broader solution to judicial succession and mentoring. Members also asked about existing retention and fitness safeguards, including Judicial Selection Commission retention hearings and the Commission on Judicial Conduct’s ability to investigate complaints about a judge’s physical or mental ability to serve. The discussion noted that the measure would still leave those processes in place. No final vote on SB 2152 was taken in the portion provided, but the committee appeared to be moving toward decision-making after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• data center in a sustainable manner. data center in a sustainable manner.
• <01:04:00.160> center, whether they want a data center, whether they want a data center, I
• And these funds would go to energy and conservation efforts in pre-weatherization, weatherization, etc
• The rate at which we're doing weatherization and pre-weatherization is necessitated; it takes like 300
• data centers. data centers. I<01:09:10.680> get<01:09:10.920> that.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But for weatherization, we are always doing heat pumps with weatherization.
• We also support the new provisions for data collection that both safeguard customer data while ensuring
• What we have seen as one example are data centers.
• And to the point on data centers, we've been in conversation with a number of groups looking at data
• And to the point on data centers, we've been in conversation with a number of groups looking at data

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on H. 4144, the Governor’s Energy Affordability, Independence, and Innovation Act, with the administration arguing the bill would lower bills in the short and long term while expanding clean energy supply and innovation. The Governor and Secretary said the bill would reduce or restructure charges on customer bills, reform Mass Save, expand securitization as a financing tool, speed interconnection, create energy-ready zones, strengthen consumer protections in competitive supply, and allow broader state procurement of energy resources. They said the package could save consumers billions over time and would help address high energy costs, especially during extreme heat and winter spikes. Committee members pressed the administration on several provisions, especially securitization, asking whether the bill requires an apples-to-apples comparison of total costs over time, including interest and lost tax revenue, versus paying through rates. Administration witnesses said DPU review and public comment would be required and said they would work to clarify the language if needed. Members also questioned the bill’s solar and procurement provisions, including reduced net metering compensation for some large facilities, the scope of all-resource procurements, and whether hydro, solar, and nuclear would be included; the administration said those resources were contemplated and that procurement would still be reviewed by DPU. Other questions focused on the short-term relief from bill changes, the treatment of low- and moderate-income discounts, and whether the bill’s heat pump and Mass Save reforms would help customers who cannot afford upfront costs. Several witnesses and committee members discussed Mass Save reforms, including securitization of program costs, on-bill financing, pre-approval of rebates, and shifting program administration away from gas utilities. Administration witnesses said the changes were intended to reduce volatility, lower administrative costs, and better align costs with long-term savings. Questions also touched on geothermal permitting, municipal participation in offshore wind procurement, and the proposed repeal of the ballot requirement for nuclear power, which the administration defended as preserving future options under heavy review. No votes were taken during the hearing portion described. Supportive testimony came from labor, environmental, business, planning, and development groups. The AFL-CIO, NECA, and the Environmental League of Massachusetts backed the bill, emphasizing lower bills, job creation, labor standards, just transition protections, and cleaner energy. NAIOP, the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, and MAPC supported provisions on energy-ready zones, interconnection reform, microgrids, extreme-heat shutoff protections, and Mass Save improvements. A HEET representative praised the bill’s use of securitization, geothermal, and utility financing tools but urged guardrails and workforce protections. Overall, testimony was broadly favorable, with most witnesses calling for refinements rather than opposing the bill outright.

Transcript Highlights:

• That really, as we have a cold weather over this last week, those increases for businesses across the
• as we<00:03:48.280> have<00:03:48.400> a<00:03:48.560> cold<00:03:48.799> weather
• <00:03:49.200> over<00:03:49.439> this<00:03:49.599> last we have a cold weather
• over this last we have a cold weather over this last week<00:03:50.560> those<00:03:50.799>
• hearing about of the additional um data hearing about of the additional um data centers<00:33:38.320

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House File 9 was heard as a proposal to alter Minnesota energy policy by creating exemptions and “off-ramps” from the state’s 2023 clean energy requirements. The bill would expand hydroelectric power’s eligibility, end the moratorium on new nuclear plants, delay certain carbon-free energy compliance requirements for utilities that do not meet a retail rate benchmark, restrict demolition of fossil fuel plants under that same benchmark, support carbon capture and sequestration, and expand the sales tax exemption for residential natural gas and electricity used as primary heat year-round. The author moved the A1 amendment, which clarified that the carbon capture policy language does not create a state funding obligation; the committee took up the amendment with no discussion and proceeded to a vote, though the result was not stated in the transcript. The bill was then referred to the Committee on Taxes. The author and supporters argued the bill is needed to improve reliability and affordability, especially during extreme cold, and said current mandates are forcing coal retirements faster than replacement generation can be built. They cited MISO and NERC reliability concerns, Xcel’s proposed rate increases, and the need for an “all-of-the-above” energy approach that includes nuclear and hydro. Supporters also said the bill would help keep energy costs down for families and businesses and would allow Minnesota to use existing generation assets longer if rate targets are not met. Testimony from the Minnesota Rural Electric Association and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce supported the bill’s emphasis on reliability, affordability, nuclear power, hydroelectric power, and carbon capture. The Chamber said Minnesota’s electricity costs have become less competitive for businesses and argued that stable, affordable power is essential for economic growth and future technologies such as AI. The Minnesota Utility Investors also supported allowing new nuclear and all hydro power to be considered. In contrast, the Prairie Island Indian Community opposed lifting the nuclear moratorium without a viable long-term waste solution, describing its long history living near the Prairie Island nuclear plant and spent fuel storage and urging continued consultation on the issue. Xcel Energy said it supports low rates and sees nuclear as one option, but emphasized that any support for lifting the moratorium depends on full participation by the Prairie Island Indian Community and that decisions about retiring fossil plants should remain within the existing Public Utilities Commission resource planning process.

Transcript Highlights:

• Data centers can be moved out of state just as quickly as they can be set up in state.
• you see the addition of new data centers in purple, the hydrogen, uh, industrial load growth and the
• Now focusing on the data center part, well, focusing on the larger load part if you move on to slide
• The rest of these storms, we have not had load shed, so the performance of units before weatherization
• And so the, uh, the weatherization of those thermal units, the weatherization of the gas system, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And with me is Kelly And weatherization programs. Next slide.
• On this slide, you can see that the entire state is able to receive weatherization This year's Weatherization
• I just need weather stripping everywhere.
• Process of figuring out how they qualify is what is the need of weatherization.
• How are we having we're You're saying the minimal is still maybe not more than weather ception.